Dodgers fans select the top 10 greatest moments of Clayton Kershaw’s legendary career – NBC Los Angeles

The curtain fell on an era in Los Angeles on Friday night. Clayton Kershaw — the Dodgers’ ace, their constant, their heart and soul for 18 seasons — made his final regular season start at Dodger Stadium.

For nearly two decades, Kershaw’s left arm has been both a weapon and a work of art. He baffled hitters with a knee-buckling curveball, nicknamed by legendary broadcaster Vin Scully as the “Public Enemy No. 1.” He won three Cy Young Awards, and earned an MVP — all while etching his name alongside Sandy Koufax as one of the greatest pitchers in Dodgers history.

As 53,037 teary-eyed fans packed Chavez Ravine one last time to witness the living legend on his mound one final time, it got us reflecting on where Kershaw’s final start at home during the regular season ranked on the top 10 greatest moments of his unforgettable career.

So we decided to ask you, the faithful fans of the Dodgers, which moments are your personal favorites of Clayton Kershaw’s illustrious career. We asked, and you answered. So without further ado, here are the fans rankings of the top 10 greatest moments of Clayton Kershaw’s career:

1. The No-Hitter That Nearly Became a Perfect Game (June 18, 2014)

Every ace dreams of a no-hitter, and for Kershaw, it was destiny. Against the Colorado Rockies, he was flawless — 15 strikeouts, no walks, and just one blemish: a seventh-inning throwing error by shortstop Hanley Ramirez that ended perfection. Still, it was a masterpiece. Vin Scully’s call, the crowd’s electricity, and Kershaw’s roar after the final strike cemented it as perhaps the finest game of his life.

2. Finally Getting the Ring (2020 World Series)

For years, critics pointed to October as Kershaw’s Achilles heel. He reached his first World Series in 2017, and pitched sensational in Game 1 win at Dodger Stadium, but he struggled in Game 5, surrendering multiple four-run leads. Years later, we would eventually find out the Houston Astros cheated during that Fall Classic, but the damage was done. Kershaw and the Dodgers lost back-to-back World Series in 2017 and 2018, before returning to the mountaintop in 2020, when the narrative of Kershaw’s October ghosts would finally end.

With the Dodgers chasing their first championship since 1988, Kershaw delivered five strong postseason outings, none better than his eight shutout innings and 13 strikeouts against Milwaukee in the Wild Card Series. When the Dodgers clinched the World Series, Kershaw sprinted to the field, arms raised, a champion at last.

Unfortunately, the Dodgers didn’t get to celebrate that championship with a parade, Kershaw and the Boys in Blue would have to wait four more years for that, celebrating with hundreds of thousands of fans in downtown Los Angeles and at Dodger Stadium, with none more excited for the moment than Kershaw himself.

3. The MVP Season (2014)

In 2014, Kershaw wasn’t just the best pitcher in baseball — he was the best player. A 21–3 record, a microscopic 1.77 ERA, six complete games, and that no-hitter. He won the Cy Young unanimously and became just the 11th pitcher in history to claim league MVP. For Dodgers fans, it was a season of dominance not seen since Koufax.

4. Opening Day Heroics — With His Bat (April 1, 2013)

Kershaw has always loved the stage, and few moments embodied that more than Opening Day against the Giants. After eight scoreless innings, he stepped into the batter’s box and launched his first (and only) career home run. Dodger Stadium shook as he circled the bases, and he returned to the mound to complete a 4–0 shutout. A true Hollywood script.

5. Joining the 3,000 Strikeout Club (July 2, 2025)

The milestone came late in his career, but it was worth the wait. On a warm summer night at Dodger Stadium, Kershaw froze Chicago’s Vinny Capra to record career strikeout number 3,000. He became just the 20th pitcher — and only the fourth left-hander — to join one of baseball’s most exclusive clubs. For Kershaw, who spent his entire career in Dodger blue, it was the perfect exclamation point.

“We were here at Dodger Stadium for his 3,000th strikeout,” said one fan outside the stadium that was interviewed and asked about their favorite Kershaw memory by NBC LA. “It’s been a journey and something I can share with my kids and grandchildren.”

6. Cy Youngs No. 1 and 2 (2011, 2013)

Kershaw’s rise to superstardom began in 2011, when he won his first Cy Young with 21 wins, a 2.28 ERA, and 248 strikeouts. By 2013, he had become untouchable, leading the majors with a 1.83 ERA and earning his second Cy Young. In a span of four seasons, he collected three trophies, dominating an era in which offense was king.

7. The 300-Strikeout Season (2015)

Only nine pitchers in the 21st century have struck out 300 batters in a single year. Kershaw did it in 2015, finishing the season with 301 punchouts. It was power, precision, and endurance rolled into one season, showcasing why every trip to Dodger Stadium felt like a chance to witness greatness.

8. The Unlikely Save (2016 NLDS, Game 5)

Two days after gutting through a start in Game 4, Kershaw was called from the bullpen in the ninth inning of a winner-take-all Game 5 against the Nationals. With two runners on and a one-run lead, he silenced Washington’s hopes in just seven pitches, recording the only save of his career. The Dodgers advanced, and Kershaw proved once again that legends rise when the lights are brightest.

9. Clayton Kershaw’s final regular season start at Dodger Stadium (Sept. 2018)

Clayton Kershaw’s last walk off the Dodger Stadium mound was everything you’d expect from a legend. With one out in the fifth inning on Friday night, Sept. 19, 2025, manager Dave Roberts emerged from the dugout, and the sellout crowd knew what was coming.

Roberts paused for nearly 30 seconds before crossing the third base line. He let Kershaw, his teammates, and the sold out crowd of 53,037 tearful Dodgers fans soak in the moment. The ovation was deafening, stretching nearly four minutes. Fans stood, applauded, and cheered as Kershaw—18 years of brilliance stitched into Dodger blue—tipped his cap. Teammates and coaches met him with long embraces, the kind that say more than words ever could. Before disappearing into the dugout, he was pulled back out for a curtain call. His wife Ellen and their four children stood in the stands, visibly emotional, watching the patriarch of their family and the face of the franchise for the last two decades soak in one last moment at Chavez Ravine.

It wasn’t just a goodbye. It was a celebration—the end of an era in Los Angeles, and the final bow of a pitcher who defined a generation.

“It was definitely a sad moment,” said another fan to NBC LA after the game on Friday night. “We associate him with more than just baseball and the Dodgers. It’s a family thing for us. It’s not just his baseball skills. He’s truly a good person. He’s a blessing, and the Dodgers are blessed to have him.”

10. Going Streaking (2014 & 2015)

Few pitchers have been as stingy as Kershaw during his prime. From June to July 2014, he threw 41 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings, the fourth-longest streak in Dodgers history. The very next season, he nearly matched it with a 37-inning scoreless run. For fans, it felt like every start carried the possibility of witnessing history.

The Legacy of a Dodgers Icon

From the roar of Opening Day to the final strikeout of his career, Clayton Kershaw has given Los Angeles more than numbers or accolades — he’s given them memories that live forever. His 2.54 career ERA, the lowest of any pitcher with more than 2,500 innings in the Live Ball Era, will hang in the record books. But what fans will remember most is the way he competed: fiery, fearless, and loyal to Dodger blue.